[puremetal89]

No batteries dont like sitting even disconnected. A weak battery will of course suffer more. An option is to route your charge cables from the rear all the way to the front via a firewall grommet. Hooking directly up to the battery. This is safe IF the power wire is fused near the battery.

 

[75aces]

Need a heater blanket on the battery.

 

[puremetal89]

That helps yep.

 

[Vangm25]

• Solar panel charger
• Battery quick-disconnect
• Battery heater
• Battery

And the battery quick-disconnect still results in a dead battery. I would blame the battery.

 

[75aces]

Never lived that far north. But, it doesn't hurt to be able to remove these accessories from the battery when winter is over. How low are temps during your summer in Quebec?

 

[steve108]

If it is charging then it is charging. All you gotta do is cut off those clamps, strip the wires, attach some sort of pigtail end on it, bolt it to the battery, and find a way through the firewall to connect to the solar panel. Anything you want to do is up to you and at your own risk.

And add a small fuse as close to the battery as possible, definitely before the wiring passes through the firewall.

 

[Vangm25]

And add a small fuse as close to the battery as possible, definitely before the wiring passes through the firewall.

Someone on the Highlander varient of this thread mentioned adding a toggle switch so it can turn off while driving. I would add that too.

 

[tabaka45]

Every motorcycle I have and my tractor have pigtails attached directly to the battery for trickle charging. The tractor has been on the solar charger for about five years and the battery is still strong. When I get ready to use the tractor I just unplug from the pigtail and take off. I use battery tenders on the motorcycles.

 

[Briand_oh]

Hi all!

Would it be possible to install an auxiliary power outlet, like the ones in newer cars, which is always on? This would solve my problem.

If so, how much could this cost?

I have a VW/Audi OEM solar charger that has an OBD-II plug attached. Didn't keep the Jeep charged up, but then I did't wash the windshield, either. Just a data point.

 

[Briand_oh]

Oh, and Harbor Ft has an onboard charger you install by the battery and plug 120 V AC cord into. Have to remember to disconnect, obviously.

 

[bennor]

Bumping this old thread due to Covid and people working from home. Anyone use/using the cheap Harbor Freight 1.5 Watt Solar Battery Charger? Or is it better to spend a little more for a similar (no name Chinese brand - like this one) from Amazon? Does one really need to use a separate (additional cost) regulator (HF example regulator) with these cheap solar chargers like some do/suggest, or can the cheap solar charger be left attached to the battery full time till driving the car?